Sneeze births please, and we'll BROOK NO ARGUMENT

[TheLittleFriend]

Over here Brookers. I'll stick a cake in the oven

Oh Far squeeeeeee! We crossed posts! Sounds like you had a sneeze birth of sorts, sorry about the scary bit at the end though. I had back to back with DD and a ventouse, so I sympathise. Glad you are all safely home and feeding well! So happy for you after a long TTC journey.

Welcome to baby Matilda!

Whoop whoop Far

AWESOME news

woo! congrats far on another lovely mini Brooker.

Oh and j forgot to add she is gorgeous and sniffly and I can't believe she is ours ! Totally in love x

Far that is marvelous, so pleased for you and Mr f, she has a beautiful name, enjoy your newborn snuggles, well done.

Ooh, great news. Congrats Far and MrFar.

Congratulations far and of course mrfar

Congratulation teamfar and such a pretty name too!

Congratulations Far sounds like things got a bit scary for you there, but glad all turned out well. Hope you've been enjoying all those newborn snuggles. I can't wait now

Congratulations Far! :) Beautiful name! :) Hope you're recovering well and are enjoying the lovely newborn snuggles :)

(p.s. the two hour feeds often continue even when not necessary because of jaundice .. ;) )

Who's next? Stacks? :)

Congratulations, Far! 9 lbs is a great size! Well done you. It sounds like MrFar deserves congrats too for being a star. Welcome little Matilda!

Far - thought you'd gone a bit quiet! - over the moon for you all and well done for getting through that birth. Gorgeous name. Hope the b-fing continues well and have a lovely first few months together. I know how much Matilda was brooked for, so it must be amazing to finally have her in the world. I can't believe she was early and still so big! Will you call her Tilda/Tilly for short?

Stacks - no pressure, but you're up next.

Biscuits - you got a little whiffle then. Thought it was rather sweet that your DS2 smells of wheetabix now.

Gen - as you can tell, I'm bored!!! Hopefully you'll get a weekend in Nov free for a bit of sorting. I had tonnes of stuff but it didn't take long to narrow it down to 0-3m neutrals. I love baby stuff so didn't think about it being too early to delve. No idea what will happen with DS during HB. May check in with a couple of local mummy friends to see if they can take him if I have to go to hospital. I figure that 3 MWs in my home is enough for the big event. The dog slept through the last HB (not much noise) so hopefully DS and the dog will sleep through this one! Are your Ps or PILs quite nearby for your DD and available at short notice?

Ok all Brookers - I need some advice. We have been invited to a Christening on Saturday. DS's first CM. Lovely and v generous woman though with a tendency to buy up Argos for all the kids at Chrimbo. Being a heathen I am a bit out of touch as to what kind of gift I should take. She has everything under the sun for kids, naturally. I was wondering if a coat for her DD2 would be good but for next winter as she probably has all the gear she needs for this winter? But is a coat too personal/interfering ifkwim? Also CM is v into pink, so do I need to steele myself and get girly?! Any other ideas about something appropriate for a christening?

TVM.

Congratulations Far!

Tock I have given money before to non family christenings. A few years ago I gave a necklace to a baby. It is child sized so while she wouldn't be able to wear it for a few years, should fit long enough before she needs an adult size and could always take the pendant off and put it on a longer chain if she wanted to.

tock I've been to a couple of christening a and have always bought keepsakes, for my eldest niece we bought her a lovely pocket sized Peter rabbit book and a soft cuddle version, my youngest niece we commisioned a clay lantern thing that looked like a fairy house (we were godparents) and my mates baby we bought a hungry caterpillar buggy book and a soft toy!!

What about something unique? Or hand made? Are your crafty skills up to much?

Tock we've just had ds2 christened and we were given lots of photo frames and money boxes, a little wooden train spelling out his name, a tooth and curl box, some clothes, um, a couple of breakfast / plate and bowl sets (one melamine, one china), books, a lovely soft baby book with spaces for family photos (you know to teach them mummy and daddy etc), money, general toys and a Noah's ark shape sorter (which was kind of religious but only in an understated way, quite clever really as it is a lovely toy).

Hope there are some ideas there :)

oh far what lovely news and a lovely name. huge congratulations to you on what has been such a long road. i'm so chuffed for you xx

Nicely put Ninja - I'll second that

Thank you ladies - those are lovely ideas. I will check out something like the letters for her name Biscuits - they are so cute, and possibly a dinner set or picture frame as well. I wouldn't feel confident about buying jewellery even though that's a lovely idea.

Had a rather traumatic day with DS. Sometimes he confuses me so - one minute he's an affectionate, sweet, bright little man - next he's a destructive, uncontrollable little s**t. Sorry - this morning I took him to his farm playgroup thinking half term wouldn't make a difference, but it was shut so I decided we'd go over the road to the woodlands (better for dog who was with us) and a lunch in the caf theree. He was so angry with me he threw a (large metal) toy car at my head while I was driving - and walloped me. I was absolutely furious. (A few stares in the car park at my raised voice as I got him out of the car.) We made up but then this afternoon we played together then both came upstairs so I could put some clothes away. He went in his bedroom and closed his door. Within 5 mins he came out with his pants down, covered in poo - legs, hands, bedclothes, the works. I swear he did it on purpose (possibly because of the morning's events?) - he's been v good for weeks about his toilet training. I know he's still not 3 but surely he knows better, or am I expecting too much. I've been uncertain about returning him to creche but the way things are going at the moment I think I will have to for my own sanity. Am I getting something v wrong?

Sorry for long post again.

Oh Tock what a hard day! Can I say first that you are NOT getting anything wrong. You are doing a great job. These children are sent to test us sometimes

I also would have been furious at a toy being thrown at me and would also have attracted a few raised eyebrows at me shouting at him (which I am 100% sure I would have done!)

As for poo gate - well, how awful. I mean poor you for having to clean it up - yeuch! I wouldn't think that DS could have held a grudge from the morning - it's probably more that whatever caused him to play up this morning raised its head again? And that needn't be anything specific - just a phase / bit of a rush of hormones etc. my ds1 is usually also a lovely kind considerate little boy and then every now and again he'll do something that just makes me look at him and think 'what?' I can't even fathom what makes a toddler want to do a poo and smear it everywhere BUT it is relatively common isn't it. You do hear of kids doing it don't you.

Also, I guess it might be a bit of a reaction to you being pg. even though DS can't fathom what it will be like or what is going to change, they just know that something is different don't they. And potty training regressions are v v common with pg / new baby aren't they. Perhaps this falls in the same bracket?

Hope it all gets better soon and your lovely boy is back ASAP xx

Far lovely! Congratulations well done you!

Oh Tock everything Biscuit said with added {{hugs}} they really are sent to try us sometimes, but I agree it is absolutly nothing to do with anything you are doing wrong. Whenever toddlyboo has a change in personality like this I first check if he is maybe getting poorly (often the case with him) if it is another blessed phase, then I deal with each issue seperatly, and enjoy the lovely bits in between and make sure he has no projectiles in the car Good luck.

Thanks so much Biscuits and Boo, and agree Boo that it was obviously too tempting having a nice big car at hand and my head right there! He's a v good shot! Thanks for your kind words Biscuits - I'm sure you wouldn't have embarrassed yourself like I did, but I just needed him to know that it was v dangerous and I was v upset. Re' the poo-fest - you're right, you do hear of it. It's just so when they go from telling you they love you to wanting to hurt you and do a dirty protest like that. I did wonder if it's partly the pregnancy but actually I think it is much more about discovering his ego and being annoyed that I'm in charge. I think I do expect a lot of him mainly because he is so good. Boo - you're right we do have to think round the edge of the behaviour so to speak. It sounds silly but I think the clock going back is quite tough on them and DS seems tired/a bit discombobulated. He also doesn't like his creche (off this week) but I'm not sure we should give in to that as it seems a positive environment and I worry when he spends too much time with me and not enough time with little ones. Anyway - onwards and upwards as the good, sweet behaviour definitely outweighs the challenging stuff so I just have to put it behind us. Thanks again.

And hello Solars!

xxx

Last year I was collecting Mr boo from work, half was there toddly boo was being a nightmare in the back of the car, when we got to Mr boo's work I looked at toddly to see him sit back down, he had undone his seat straps and got his arms out. I shouted at him while I was strapping him back in, only to hear a teenager walking across the car park say I was a horrible person for shouting at a baby don't beat yourself up about it, I'm sure I hope it happens to everyone.

Congratulations Far, what wonderful news. What a difference a year makes eh?

Hope you're recovering well. Enjoy every moment.

Congratulations Far!! Well done hope you are having lovely snuggles with Matilda (also our top girl name :) )

Someone on the December thread mentioned that we can now say we are having a baby next month . I feel like I still have so much to organise! How are you getting on Stacks you're a week or two before me aren't you? Does anyone ever feel ready before a PFB arrives?